In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 240B is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Stage 250WL is a In-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 240B and JBL Stage 250WL first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 240B | JBL Stage 250WL |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polycellulose | 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-25k Hz | 52-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | 20-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.59kg / 10.1lbs | 3.49kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-3/4" x 6-15/16" x 8-1/2"
274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm | 18.1250" x 6.3750" x 3.8125"
461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage 240B and JBL Stage 250WL speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL Stage 240B |
JBL Stage 250WL |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Stage 240B and Stage 250WL are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage 240BJBL Stage 250WL
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 240B |
JBL Stage 250WL |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Stage 240B features a 1" Hard-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 250WL features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 240B has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz whereas Stage 250WL has a frequency range of 52-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Stage 250WL can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 240B's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Stage 240B is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Stage 250WL which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 240B sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Stage 250WL's is rated at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 250WL a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 240B, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Stage 250WL can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Stage 240B has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the Stage 250WL.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Stage 240B features Spring post type posts and Stage 250WL has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL Stage 240B's and JBL Stage 250WL's external dimensions. JBL Stage 240B has external dimensions of 274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm (10-3/4inch x 6-15/16inch x 8-1/2inch) whereas JBL Stage 250WL has external dimensions of 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm (18.1250-inch x 6.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch).
JBL Stage 250WL is 15mm narrower and 119mm less deeper than JBL Stage 240B but it is also 187mm taller.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 240B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 240B:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 2 Foam plugs 2 Wall-brackets 4 Mounting screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250WL?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 250WL:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide